Peru natural gas workers plan six-day strike at end of year

LIMA Dec 16 (Reuters) - Natural gas workers in Peru plan to
start a six-day strike on December 27 to push for better wages
and other benefits after talks with Argentine energy company
Pluspetrol broke down, the union SUTRAPPEC said on
Tuesday.

Pluspetrol leads the consortium that develops Peru's Camisea
fields, the source of the vast majority of the country's daily
natural gas output of around 1.2 billion cubic feet.

SUTRAPPEC said in a statement that its members voted to
start the strike at 0600 (1100 GMT) December 27. Demands include
salary increases, protection from noxious chemicals and better
food and telecommunications in worker camps.

The union said in early November it represents 193 of the
494 Camisea workers, and that a walkout would halt natural gas
production in Peru.

Pluspetrol did not immediately respond to requests for
comment.

Peru exports about 600 million cubic feet of liquefied
natural gas per day. Natural gas powers about half of the
country's electrical generation.